A great start to a journey

Hi peeps! I am happy to announce the first digital issue of our Wellness Way magazine is now out! If you want to find out more about luxurious spa resorts in Asia, pampering yourself with our featured beauty products or organic eateries in the region, please go here to subscribe. The next delivery will be available for download on the 4th February.

This is my first time writing for a magazine. I was thrilled and terrified at the same time! I have to admit it was certainly not as easy as I initially and naively thought it would be. Still, it was an awesome and humbling experience. I am terribly grateful I was given a chance to have a taste of it and am hoping with all my might for more such opportunities to showcase my potential and to bring me to greater heights. YAY!!! :D

 

Reflect, repent and reboot!

Loud blasting of colourful fireworks and an annoying throbbing toothache ushered me into the new year, with an oblivious little one sleeping through those booms and bams. Rather than stuffing my face with food again on New Year's Eve, the pain kept me at home and I am not exactly crying bloody murder about it. Some quality time was spent with Ewan McGregor in Trainspotting which was absolutely brilliant. I am kicking myself why I didn't watch it earlier.

A quiet night equals to some reflecting. 2012 wasn't all booms and bangs but it's no indicator that the year was any less significant.

Writing allows me to open windows of information and knowledge which I would otherwise never dream to open. That sense of personal growth I feel is fortunately not short-lived. Instead of counting sheeps when I toss and turn on the bed, I count the many blessings I am bestowed on. Should I expire today, the regrets will be thankfully minimal. Problems, pain and injustice are very real but I choose to focus on the positive aspects of life.

It is with immense joy and pleasure observing how the little one learn, develop and grow into her own little person, with some unfortunate traits clearly inherited from her parents. It's also with great pride and relief to hear the kindergarten teacher praising her as an enduring and sweet-natured child. She must have mistaken her for another child.

The man still sits next to me on the couch every night despite me being an impossible and miserable cow sometimes. He won't hesitate to change that to all the time.

Turning 40 isn't as bad as I initially thought it would be. Thinking of me on that day, the dear friends from far and near sent loads of love and blessings which helped to soften the blow. I feel truly loved and lucky.

Let's see how 2013 unfolds now that my age bracket is officially [40-50]. AAAAAAAHHHHHHH......

Happy news!

I am now one step closer to my writing dreams! Two days ago, my article on air-purifying houseplants for the blog of an online wellness magazine went live. Seeing my work published somewhere else other than on this blog is indeed gratifying and the joy is beyond description. Okay, it is not an earth-shattering kind of literary work which I have always dreamed of, but I am immensely thankful nonetheless for the chance given to me. And turth be told, I enjoyed writing every single word of it. Another affirmation that it's the journey that matters.

So yeah, I can officially call myself a contributor now! *beaming*

So do pop over to the website and find out what amazing plants help to cleanse toxins from your indoor air. Go now. You know you want to. :)

Winter

Winter. It spins me round and round with its icy fingers and then tosses me carelessly into its winter slump. All I want to do is hibernate and eat, hibernate and eat. But then in order to eat, I have to bloody cook! Poof! There goes my hibernation dreaming...

Winter. Cut to the bone coldness which spells one of the most exciting part of the season: change of wardrobe! Time to dig out those warm and cushiony jackets/coats, chunky woolly scarves, boots, boots and boots! All manner of it! Long boots, riding boots, ankle boots, biker boots, cowboy boots, fur-lined boots, slouchy boots.... I get heady just listing them. Where and how does one find that one perfect pair of boots? You don't. You buy a few pairs for different outfits and occasions. Just like the many dresses, sweaters, trousers, skirts, shirts you stash in your bursting cupboard. I present the same argument to the man. Even though he would not be persuaded, he grudgingly relented.

The quintessential casual-chic autumn statement

Winter. Despite the gloomy grey skyline, my face is beaming brightly because something exciting is brewing in the pipeline. I won't reveal the details just yet but I promise to do so when the time is right. So watch this space!

Winter. This year marks my turning four decades old in this Middle-earth. I hope the large numbers won't cause me to confuse reality with fantasy and be wise for a long time to come.

Photo credit: here

Tonic for the soul

I've been wandering on music desert recently that the soul is about to die of thirst. A raid for that droplet of water turned up a gem. An old gem which I used to be very fond of and still am because the words resonate especially with the maternal state in me.

And those outfits! Years later, they don't seem to go out of style and still manage to look fabulously modern. It must be the attitude wearing the clothes and not letting the clothes walk all over you.

 

A little post-holiday blah

Instead of writing regularly, I took off without a word on a month-long trip. Once home, the post-trip me was reeling from jet-lag and withdrawal symptoms of the lion city. Before I could pause to breath, the little one began her kindergarten while her second set of molars threaten to push through. Therefore, sleep has been rather wanting for all of us at home lately. So yes, it's been a crazy few weeks.

I can't believe I just said that, calling Germany my home. Or to be more precise, calling this little cosy pad my home. Singapore is where I was born and grew up in while Germany is where I start my family. The old familiarity and easy intimacy with my home country is of course undeniable the instant I touched down in Changi Airport. But, to be back in my own apartment, my own bed, my own bathroom and not living out of a suitcase, that is equally unbeatable too.

Talk about stuck between two worlds and the odd occasional feeling that I belong to both worlds and yet, at the same time, not belonging anywhere.

I'd rather be handsome than pretty

The hair was chopped off yesterday. It features such severe undercut which serves to further accentuate my already androgynous inclination that for a fleeting moment I contemplated a more feminine wardrobe to strike a balance. No sooner had the idea taken form than I disgustedly cast the stereotypical thought into the toilet bowl. Instead, these came to mind. Brogues. Shirts. Suit jackets. Tuxedos. Masculine pants. Tilda Swinton.

Photo credits: here

 

Fashion victim

What do you think?! I love how the different hues make my feet look so happy! And the best and fun part of it? Making a fuss over which toe gets which colour. Once the colours were sorted, my very own home manicure began. I am admittedly lazy when it comes to polishing my nails. This time was however a little different. It strangely became a source of enjoyment and I attacked my nails with such gusto that I was done within minutes! Pleased as punch with the results, these rainbow nails are certainly here to stay.

 

Of non-meat, treated meat and chest meat

It's everywhere. Anywhere I turn, I see, read or hear people trying consciously to eat more healthily and be more aware of their food source. Many are either abstaining from meat, are vegans or raw foodies. My admiration for them is undeniable. The commitment and the determination to be green despite having to constantly deal with weird looks from waiters and strangers and having to explain time and time again the reason behind it, all requires immense strength. It is especially difficult when family members, friends or partners do not understand why the sudden drastic change of diet. Hence, hats off to these brave souls!

Having said that, I am probably one of those sad unconverted, an almost-extinct species which is adamant in chomping down high fat, high protein, highly processed food and succumbing wilfully to food cravings while shoving the thought of diet-related diseases to the dark dusty alley of my mind. I am such a fast food junkie that I need my shot of burgers, fries, nuggets on a regular basis to obtain that sugar high, no matter if it is a placebo effect or not. Yes yes, it is all quite contradicting to my recent obsession of getting rid of cottage cheese skin. But I obstinately cling to the outdated motto: live to eat.

Speaking of imperfect body, I finally watched Atonement the other day. A vision of green, Keira Knightly was absolutely stunning in her flowing emerald charmeuse. What affected me most was seeing a celebrity unafraid and unabashed to flaunt her flat chested state to the public. It's a rather refreshing sight as opposed to the now-accepted norm of huge breasts and cleavages. I must say I, as a fellow flat chested sista, feel somewhat comforted and reassured by her courage. Being flat chested has never been as celebrated as the well-endowed, causing some females to feel inadequate and less feminine. Even a definition for such a seemingly innocent term whiffs of prejudice, 'A chest in which the anteroposterior diameter is less than the average.' We just can't please everyone now, can we?

Photo credit: here

Feeling the summery mood despite the scorching heat

Summery weather calls for sunny colours. Not too long ago, I chanced upon a cheerful medley of nail colours in a fashion magazine (not unsimilar to the one below) and I've been musing ever since if I would be bold enough to pamper my pallid nails with these pretty hues. The purposeful musing seems eager to end its job when I caught myself searching for pops of colours in the little beauty compartment in the bathroom and found none! I am really an earth tone person. That immediately ensued a mental note to self to get some new shades in the stores. Alas! It appears I will soon fall victim to yet another fashion fad. Not ungrudgingly though, if I may add.

Photo credit: here